Wide-band phase shifter

ABSTRACT

A wide-band phase shifter contains a first (φ 1 ) and a second (φ 2 ) parallel branch receiving the same input signal (e) and presenting at their output a first (s 1 ) and a second (s 2 ) output signal which are shifted with respect to each other by a given angle. The first branch includes a first phase shift module (φ 1 ) and the second branch includes a second phase shift module (φ 2 ). A first (V.sub.ε1) and a second (V.sub.ε2) control signal are processed by a negative feedback loop having a phase-sensitive detector (10) which receives the output signals (s 1 , s 2 ). A control circuit (CC) receives a control signal (ε) supplied by the detector (10) and produces the control signals (V.sub.ε1, V.sub.ε2). These signals are generated for producing the oppositely directed phase corrections in the two phase shift modules.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 145,856, filed Jan. 20, 1988, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a wide-band phase shifter comprising a first and second branch arranged in parallel and receiving the same input signal at their inputs and producing a first and a second output signal at their outputs, these output signals being phase-shifted with respect to each other by a given angle, the first branch comprising a first phase shift module producing a phase shift as a function of a first control signal, said control signal being processed by a negative feedback loop comprising a phase-sensitive detector and receiving said first and second output signals.

A phase shifter of this type is known from the Article published by Al-ARAJI et al in the magazine "The Radio and Electronic Engineer" Vol. 50, no. 3, pages 107-112, March 1980, entitled "Frequency-independent analog phase-shift network technique using field effect transistors".

This article describes a phase shifter for low frequencies which can be used in the frequency band of 20-80 kHz for producing a 90° phase shift between the two may be chosen to be within a range of ±20° around the value of 90°.

Such a phase shifter has drawbacks which are particularly due to the fact that the phase shift between the two output signals is produced by phase-shifting network arranged in one of the two branches, while the other branch comprises a resistive network. The result is that the amplitudes at the two outputs cannot be equalized very accurately in a large range of frequencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to give the phase shifter a symmetrical structure such that a high phase and amplitude precision in a large range of frequencies is ensured.

To this end, the phase shifter according to the invention is characterized in that the second branch comprises a second phase shift module and in that the negative feedback loop comprises a control circuit receiving the output signal of said phase-sensitive detector and producing said first control signal as well as a second control signal for controlling said second phase shift module, the two control signals being generated so as to produce oppositely directed phase corrections in the two phase shift modules.

The phase-sensitive detector may be a multiplier. The multiplier may advantageously be a transistor ring modulator, each of the output signals of the phase shifters and their inverse values being supplied thereto.

In this case, said multiplier may comprise a first and a second 0°-180° phase shifter particularly comprising MESFET differential amplifiers with an active charge receiving the first and the second output signal at their inputs so as to produce the output signals of the phase shifter and their inverse values.

In a preferred embodiment, said differential amplifiers comprise a stage including a first and a second MESFET transistor which are source-couples and whose drains constitute a first and a second output of the differential amplifier, as well as a third and a fourth MOS transistor whose source and drain are connected are connected to the source and the drain of the first and second transistor, respectively, and in that the first and second outputs of the differential amplifier are fed back to the gates of the third and fourth transistors, respectively, via a first and a second feedback capacitor.

The active charge may be constituted by a fifth and a sixth MESFET transistor whose source is connected to the drains of the first and second transistors, whose drain is connected to a power supply terminal and whose source and gate are interconnected via a third and a fourth capacitor, respectively, and whose gate is connected to the power supply terminal via a first and a second resistor, respectively.

In one embodiment, the control circuit comprises a first and second integrator and in that the output signal of the phase-sensitive detector is a differential signal applied to the inputs of the first and the second integrator. If necessary at least one of said first and second integrators comprises a circuit for level shift correction.

The phase of a phase shifter of this type can be controlled between 0° and 180°.

Such a phase shifter may comprise a differential input amplifier receiving an input signal and having an inverting output and a non-inverting output and a first and a second output stage of the push-pull type realized with MESFET transistors each comprising an inverting input and a non-inverting input, said inverting output controlling the inverting input of the first output stage and the non-inverting input of the second output stage and said non-inverting output controlling the non-inverting input of the first output stage and the inverting input of the second output stage, the output of the first output stage being charged by the drain-source path of a seventh transistor whose gate receives a control signal in series with a fifth capacitor, the output of the second output stage being charged by a third and a fourth resistor arranged in series, and in that the voltages present at the common terminal of the drain-source path of the seventh transistor and the fifth capacitor and at the common terminal of the third and fourth resistors are added by a second summation circuit whose output is the output of the phase shift module.

Such an arrangement has the advantage of a reduced common mode voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a prior art phase shifter;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a phase shifter according to the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a transistor ring modulator and a MESFET 0°-180° phase shifter, respectively, constituting a multiplier in one embodiment according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a control circuit according to the invention; and

FIGS. 6a and 6b show a circuit of a phase shifter according to the invention and a preferred method of realizing such a phase shifter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 a prior art phase shifter (EL-ARAJI et al) comprises a buffer amplifier A₁, a first branch receiving the output signal from the amplifier A₁ and comprising successively a phase shifter constituted by a controllable phase-shifting network PSN and an output amplifier A₂, a second branch receiving the output signal from the amplifier A₁ comprising successively a resistive network RN having a gain which is substantially identical to that of the controllable phase-shifting network PSN, and an output amplifier A₃. The phase of the network PSN is controlled by a negative feedback loop comprising a phase-sensitive detector receiving the output signals Vo₁ Vo₂ from the output amplifiers A₂ and A₃, respectively, and whose output controls an amplifier A₄ which receives a voltage V_(REF) for zero shift control and which is cascade-arranged successively with a filter F and an integrator I. The difference between the output signal of the integrator I and a nominal voltage V_(b) is produced by a comparator 2 and constitutes the voltage V_(N) which controls the phase shift produced by the network PSN. This voltage is applied to the gate of a field effect transistor so as to vary its drain-source resistance and hence the phase of an RC network in which it is incorporated. The presence of the resistive network in the second branch has for its object to realize an attenuation of the gain which is as close as possible to that produced by the network PSN so that, as far as is possible, the two output signals Vo₁ and Vo₂ have the same amplitude. Such an equalization of the amplitude an only be obtained with an accuracy for a given frequency. In a large frequency band, the network PSN does not have a constant attenuation.

In FIG. 2 showing a phase shifter according to the invention, the first and second branches each comprise respective phase shift modules φ₁ and φ₂ which are each controlled by a control signal Vε₁ and Vε₂. The control signals are generated by a negative feedback loop comprising a phase-sensitive detector and a control circuit CC. The phase-sensitive detector is constituted by a multiplier 10 whose inputs receive the output signals s₁ and s₂ of the phase shift modules φ₁ and φ₂ which constitute the outputs of the phase shifter. This arrangement is preferably realized by charging the outputs s₁ and s₂ with the same impedances with which a very high precision can be obtained. The output signal of the multiplier 10 is a signal ε which controls a control circuit for generating the control signals Vε₁ and Vε₂ in conditions in which the phase corrections produced by the negative feedback loop are oppositely directed in the two phase shift modules. If it is assumed that the phase shift modules φ₁ and φ₂ can each be controlled to produce phase shifts between 0° and 180°, the phase corrections produced by the signals Vε₁ and Vε₂ may have an opposite direction with respect to a central phase shift value of 90° for a given frequency which is chosen, for example in the center of the band. In other words, when the phase shifter is adjusted in phase (that is to say ε=cosφ=0° or φ=90°), the signal s₁ has a delay of 90° minus 45° (phase correction), or 45° with respect to the input signal e, and the signal s₂ has a delay of 90° plus 45° (phase correction in the opposite direction), or 135°, which corresponds to a phase shift of 90° between the outputs s₁ and s₂.

FIGS. 3 and 4 shown an embodiment of the multiplier 10 in a circuit of the transistor ring modulator type. The multiplier itself is shown in FIG. 3. It comprises a first stage comprising two differential stages each including two source-coupled MESFET transistors (T₁, T₂) and (T₃, T₄). The gates of the transistors T₂ and T₃ are interconnected. The drains of the transistors T₁ and T₃ are interconnected and are connected to a power supply source U₂ (of, for example, 6 V) via a resistor R. The drains of the transistors T₂ and T₄ are interconnected and are connected to the power supply source U₂ via another resistor R. The gates of the transistors T₁ and T₄ are connected to a power supply terminal Vgs₂ (of, for example, -2 V) via respective resistors R₁. The gates of the transistors T₁ and T₄ receive a signal V₁ via respective capacitors C₁ and the gates of the transistors T₂ and T₃ receive the inverse value V₁ of this signal. The second stage comprises a single differential stage constituted by source-coupled MESFET transistors T₅ and T₆ which sources are connected to a voltage source Y₃ (of, for example, --4 V), whilet the drain of the transistor T₅ is connected to the sources of the transistor T₁ and T₂ and the drain of the transistors T₃ and T₄. The gates of the transistors T₅ and T₆ are connected to power supply terminal Bgs₁ (of, for example, -5.5 V) each via a resistor R₂. The gate of the transistor T₅ receives a signal V₂ via the capacitor C₂ and that of transistor T₆ receives the inverse value V₂ of this signal via another capacitor C₂. The output signal ε of the multiplier 10 is available in a differential form between the drains of the transistors T₁ T₄.

The signals V₁, V₁, and V₂, V₂ are produced by 0°-180° phase shifters, for example, by differential amplifiers, a preferred embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 4 and which have active charges. This embodiment comprises a differential stage with two source-coupled MESFET transistors T₇ and T₉ coupled by means of their sources and having their drains charged by transistors T₈ and T₁₀ which constitute said active charges. To this end the sources of the transistors T₈ and T₁₀ are connected to the drains of the transistors T₇ and T₉, respectively, the gate and the source of each transistor T₈ and T₁₀ are interconnected via capacitors C₈ and C₁₀, the gates of transistors T₈ and T₁₀ are connected to a power supply terminal U₁ (of, for example, 1.5 V) via polarization resistors R₈ and R₁₀, respectively, and the drains of the transistors T₈ and T₁₀ are connected to a second power supply terminal U₂ (of, for example, 6 V).

Such an active charge provides a gain which is relatively high at high frequencies where the capacitors C₈ and C₁₀ are equivalent to short-circuits while continuously preserving a gain of the order of one (for transistors having the same geometry). The outputs V and V of the differential amplifier are the sources of the two transistors T₁₆ and T₁₅ arranged as source followers at the drains of the transistors T₉ and T₇. A transistor T₁₈, whose source and gate are interconnected and are connected to a power supply terminal U₃ (of, for example, -4 V) and whose drain is connected to the sources of the transistors T₇ and T₉, constitutes the current source of the differential stage T₇ T₉. An input signal s is applied to the gate of the transistor T₇ which is connected to the common mode terminal (ground) via a resistor R₇. The gate of T₉ is also connected to ground. An optimum function of the differential amplifier can be realized by combining each transistor T₇ and T₉ with a transistor of smaller dimensions T'₇ and T'₉, respectively, whose source and drain are connected to the source and drain of the transistors T₇ and T₉, respectively. The gates of the transistors T₇, T'₇ and T'₉ are connected to the common mode terminal (ground) via resistors R₇, R'₇ and R'₉, respectively, while the gate of transistor T₉ is directly connected to the common mode terminal. The gates of transistor T'₇ and T'₉ receive a negative feedback signal from the outputs of the amplifier, that is to say, the respective sources of the transistors T₁₅ and T₁₆. To this end, a plurality of level shifting diodes, in this case 3, are arranged in series in the forward direction with the sources of the transistors T₁₅ and T₁₆ and with transistors T₁₇ and T₁₉ arranged as a current source similarly as the transistor T₁₈ . The negative feedback is obtained by connecting the drains of the transistors T₁₇ and T₁₉ to the gates of the transistors T'₇ and T'₉ via decoupling capacitors C'₇ and C'₉, respectively. The passage of a given current in the series-arranged diodes ensures an accurate voltage drop in the series-arranged diodes and an accurate level compensation for the negative feedback.

The 0°-180° phase shifter has an input at the gate of the transistor T₇, preferably via a capacitor C₇, and receives the signal s, which is one of the signals s₁ or s₂, for producing at the output at the sources of the transistors T₁₅ and T₁₆, the signals V₁ and V₁ in the first case and the signals V₂ and V₂ in the second case, respectively.

In FIG. 5, the control circuit cc comprises two amplifiers 20 and 21 associated with the integrators 22 and 23, respectively. If required, the amplifiers 20 and 21 may each have an input 24 and 25 for receiving the level shifting of the signals Vε₁ and Vε₁. It should be noted that for the values given by way of example in the description of FIG. 3 and for a pinch-off voltage V_(p) of the transistors of -2.5 V, the signal ε directly presents a level shift which is compatible with the circuit to be described with reference to FIG. 6b with the same values of the voltages U₁, U₂ and U₃ which are given by way of example.

In FIG. 6a, a phase shift module (φ₁, φ₂) comprises two parallel branches receiving the input signal e. The first parallel branch comprises an amplifier A₅ whose output is charged by two identical series-arranged resistors R₅ and R'₅, R'₅ having a terminal connected to the common mode terminal. The junction terminal of the resistors R₅ and R'₅ constitutes the output of the first branch. The second parallel branch comprises an inverter amplifier A₆ whose output is charged by a variable resistor R₆ whose value is controlled by a voltage V.sub.ε and a capacitor C₆ having a terminal connected to the common mode terminal. The junction terminal of the resistor R₆ and the capacitor C₆ constitutes the output of the second branch. The voltage V.sub.ε is equal to V.sub.ε1 for the module φ₁ and to V.sub.ε2 for the module φ₂.

The outputs of the two branches are combined by means of a summation circuit 40 whose output provides a signal S which is the signal s₁ for the module φ₁ and the signal s₂ for the module φ₂.

With R₅ =R'₅ and the two amplifiers A₅ and A₆ having the same gain A, we have: ##EQU1##

The phase shift for a given frequency depends on the time constant τ=R₆ C₆.

We have ##EQU2##

Thus a phase shift Δφ can be written, which varies between 0° and 180° in accordance with the value of τ, thus of R.

FIG. 6b shows a particularly advantageous embodiment of the 0°-180° phase shifter with a differential input stage including MESFET transistors having an active charge and an output stage for each amplifier embodying the MESFET transistors arranged in a push-pull configuration by which the residual common mode voltage can be optimized. An improvement of the phase up to the cut-off frequency of the transistor is thus obtained.

In FIG. 6b the phase shifter comprises a differential input stage including two MOS transistors T₂₁ and T₂₃ whose source are intercoupled and connected to a current source constituted by a transistor T₂₈ whose gate and source are connected to the power supply terminal U₃ (of, for example -4 V) and whose drain is connected to the sources of the transistors T₂₁ and T₂₃. The input voltage e is applied to the gate of transistor T₂₁ via a decoupling network comprising a series capacitor C₄ and a resistor R₄ arranged in parallel between the gate of transistor T₂₁ and the common mode terminal. The gate of transistor T₂₃ is directly connected to the common mode terminal.

In order to improve the response of the stage, the drains of the transistors T₂₁ and T₂₃ are associated with an active charge constituted by MESFET transistors T₂₂ and T₂₄ whose sources are connected to the drain of the corresponding transistors T₂₁ and T₂₃ and which comprise capacitors capacitors C₃ of low value (of the order of a picofarad) connected between their sources and their gates. The gate of each transistor T₂₂ and T₂₄ is connected to a power supply terminal U₁ (of, for example, +1.5 V), via a resistor R₃, while their drains are connected to a power supply terminal U₂ (of, for example, +6 V).

Transistors T₂₅ and T₂₆, arranged as followers whose drains are directly connected to the power supply source U₂, receive the drain voltages of the transistors T₂₁ and T₂₃, respectively, at their gates. The sources of transistors T₂₅ and T₂₆ are each connected to a group if several series-arranged diodes D, in this example 4 diodes, so as to realize a level adaptation for the push-pull output stages. Transistors T₂₇ and T₂₉, arranged as a current source in a manner analogous to transistor T₂₈, have their drains connected to the cathode of the last diode of each group so as to define the current flowing through the diodes D and thus the voltage drop in these diodes D.

The sources of the transistors T₂₅ and T₂₆ are connected to the gates of the transistors T₁₃ and T₁₁, respectively, with the voltage drop across one diode, and to the gates of the transistors T₁₂ and T₁₄, respectively, with the voltage drop across the four diodes.

The resistors R₅ and R'₅ are arranged in series between the output of the push-pull stage T₁₁, T₁₂ and the common mode terminal with the interpositioning of a decoupling capacitor C₅ of the order of nF. The variable resistor R₆ is the drain source resistor of a MESFET transistor T₃₆ whose drain is connected to the output of the push-pull stage T₁₃, T₁₄ and whose source is connected to the ungrounded terminal of the capacitor C₆.

The summation circuit 40 is constituted by two MESFET transistors T₃₁ and T₃₂ whose drains are connected to the power supply source U₂, and whose sources are interconnected and connected to a transistor T₃₃ arranged as a current source in a manner analogous to transistor T₂₈. The source of transistor T₃₆ is connected to the gate of transistor T₃₂ and the common terminal of the resistors R₅ and R'₅ is connected to the gate of transistor T₃₁ which produces the sum S of their voltages at the sources of the transistors T₃₁ and T₃₂. To vary the phase shift between 0° and 180°, the voltage V.sub.ε must be varied up to the pinch-off voltage of the channel of the transistor T₃₆. At the value of the voltages U₁, U₂, U₃, Vgs₁ and Vgs₂, when the phase difference of shift between the outputs s₁ and s₂ is 90° , the signals which control the inputs of the amplifiers 20 and 21, which is compatible with the control of the gate of transistor T₃₆ are both at the level of +4 V for the amplifiers 20 and 21 having a gain which is unitary.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described. For example, other circuits embodying the MESFET transistors may be used. The phase-sensitive detector may be, inter alia, a known double-balanced multiplier. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A wide-band phase shifter comprising a first and a second branch arranged in parallel and receiving the same input signal at their inputs and producing a first and a second output signal at their outputs, said output signals being phase-shifted with respect to each other by a given angle, the first branch comprising a first phase shift module producing said first output signal having a phase shift as a function of a first control signal, said control signal being processed by a negative feedback loop comprising a phase-sensitive detector and receiving said first and second output signals, characterized in that the second branch comprises a second phase shift module for producing said second output signal, said second phase shift module having the same structure as said first phase shift module, and in that the negative feedback loop comprises a control circuit receiving the output signal of said phase-sensitive detector and producing said first control signal as well as a second control signal for controlling said second phase shift module, the two control signals being generated so as to produce oppositely directed phase corrections in the two phase shift modules, wherein said control circuit controls the phase shifts of said first and second phase shift modules between 0° and 180°.
 2. A phase shifter as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said first and second phase shift modules each comprises a differential input amplifier receiving an input signal and having an inverting output and a non-inverting output and a first and a second output stage of the push-pull type realized with MESFET transistors each comprising an inverting input and a non-inverting input, said inverting output controlling the inverting input of the first stage and the non-inverting input of the second output stage and said non-inverting output controlling the non-inverting input of the first output stage and the inverting input of the second output stage, the output of the first output stage being charged by the drain-source path of a seventh transistor whose gate receives a control signal in series with a fifth capacitor, the output of the second output stage being charged by a third and a fourth resistor arranged in series, and in that the voltages present at the common terminal of the drain-source path of the seventh transistor and the fifth capacitor and at the common terminal of the third and fourth resistors are added by a second summation circuit whose output is the output of the phase shift module.
 3. A wide-band phase shifter comprising a first and a second branch arranged in parallel and receiving the same input signal at their inputs and producing a first and a second output signal at their outputs, said output signals being phase-shifted with respect to each other by a given angle, the first branch comprising a first phase shift module producing said first output signal having a phase shift as a function of a first control signal, said control signal being processed by a negative feedback loop comprising a phase-sensitive detector and receiving said first and second output signals, characterized in that the second branch comprises a second phase shift module for producing said second output signal, said second phase shift module having the same structure as said first phase shift module, and in that the negative feedback loop comprises a control circuit receiving the output signal of said phase-sensitive detector and producing said first control signal as well as a second control signal for controlling said second phase shift module, the two control signals being generated so as to produce oppositely directed phase corrections in the two phase shift modules, wherein the phase-sensitive detector includes a multiplier having inputs coupled to receive said first and second output signals, and an output for providing the output signal of said phase-sensitive detector.
 4. A phase shifter as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said phase shifter further comprises means for producing inverse values of said first and second output signals, sand said multiplier comprises a transistor ring modulator having inputs coupled to receive said first and second output signals and said inverse values of said first and second output signals, and an output for providing the output signal of the phase-sensitive detector.
 5. A phase shifter as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said means for producing inverse values comprises a first and a second 0°-180° phase shifter having inputs for receiving said first and second output signals, respectively, and outputs for providing the inverse values of said first and second output signals, respectively.
 6. A phase shifter as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the 0°-180° phase shifters are MESFET differential amplifiers with an active charge.
 7. A phase shifter as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said differential amplifiers comprise a stage including a first and a second MESFET transistor which are source-coupled and whose drains constitute a first and a second output of the differential amplifier, as well as a third and a fourth MOS transistor whose source and drain are connected to the source and the drain of the first and the second transistor, respectively, and in that the first and second outputs of the differential amplifier are fed back to the gates of the third and fourth transistors, respectively, via a first and a second feedback capacitor.
 8. A phase shifter as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the active charge comprises a fifth and a sixth MESFET transistor whose source is connected to the drain of the first and second transistors, respectively, whose drain is connected to a power supply terminal and whose source and gate are connected via a third and a fourth capacitor, respectively, and whose gate is connected to the said power supply terminal via a first and a second resistor.
 9. A wide-band phase shifter comprising a first and a second branch arranged in parallel and receiving the same input signal at their inputs and producing a first and a second output signal at their outputs, said output signals being phase-shifted with respect to each other by a given angle, the first branch comprising a first phase shift module producing said first output signal having a phase shift as a function of a first control signal, said control signal being processed by a negative feedback loop comprising a phase-sensitive detector and receiving said first and second output signals, characterized in that the second branch comprises a second phase shift module for producing said second output signal, said second phase shift module having the same structure as said first phase shift module, and in that the negative feedback loop comprises a control circuit receiving the output signal of said phase-sensitive detector and producing said first control signal as well as a second control signal for controlling said second phase shift module, the two control signals being generated so as to produce oppositely directed phase corrections in the two phase shift modules, wherein the output signal of said phase-sensitive detector comprises a first and a second differential signal, and said control circuit comprises a first and a second integrator having respective inputs coupled to receive the first and second differential signals from said phase-sensitive detector, and respective outputs for providing said first and said second control signals.
 10. A phase shifter as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said control circuit further comprises a level shift correction circuit having an input for receiving one of said first and second differential signals from said phase-sensitive detector and an output coupled to the input of a respective one of said first and second integrators for correcting a level of said one of said first and second differential signals applied to the input of said respective one of said first and second integrators. 